River Eamont at Pooley Bridge.

Dunmallet

Sunday, 12th February

It was raining today, but determined to have some exercise, we decided to find a small fell to climb and ended up with Dunmallet, a cute little fell overlooking the lake at Pooley Bridge. To be honest, I had never heard of it before, but Ricky bought me Wainwright's, Outlying Fells of the Lake District, for my birthday and it was one listed in there. No views from the summit as it is covered in trees but Marcus took this good, almost spring, picture from the car park.

Shelia's

Friday, 10th February

Drove to Shelia's for the afternoon. Did not break down or end up in field this time, so things are improving!
Nice Day.

Looking South: the path to Watson's Dodd.

Helvellyn from Great Dodd summit.

And finally. . . the summit cairn on Clough Head.

Clough Head - Third Attempt!

Wednesday, 8th February

I thought, if I make another attempt but from a different starting point altogether, then at least I will get some fell done as well as having a good chance at finally getting up the elusive Clough Head. This worked. I climbed Great Rigg from a small car park near Dacre and then from there it was an easy walk over to Watson's Dodd and then back to Great Rigg for the final ascent of Clough Head. The icy grass on the tops was particularly appealing but not the icy blast - God it was cold when you sat. So, did little sitting and lots of walking. Wainwright wrote that he was surprized that the sheep in this area had not evolved webbed feet. I can now understand why. How I wish the ground had been frozen on the lower slopes - slush, slush, squelch, squelch. . .

Aria Force

Ullswater from the side of Gowbarrow - Place Fell on the left.

Gowbarrow

Sunday, 5th February

We have both put on so much weight over the holidays that we have decided to make an all-out concerted effort to walk every week-end, even if the weather is not so good. It has not been at all bad recently however - cold but dry.
Gowbarrow is a small hill overlooking Ullswater at the base of which lies Aria Force. I thought if we took the longer walk, which leads around its base, it would not be quite so arduous, which was a good thing because Marcus had a bad tummy today. It was lovely to see Aria Force again after so many years but I missed High Force because Marcus wanted to return the way we had come, thinking it would be less strenuous than a straight descent down Green Hill.
I enjoyed the walk today but found the last section very tiring. It will be better once I have lost that weight I am sure.

Clough Head - second attempt

Thursday, 2nd February

Made another attempt at Clough Head, this time from St Johns in the Vale and thought I had succeeded in reaching it - until that is, I got home and had another look at the Wainwright Book. Sure enough, the cairn I had reached looked nothing like the one Wainwright had drawn: and I realised I had only climbed as far as White Pike. God - I'm so mad. I can't believe I've done this again!

My Birthday

Saturday, 28th January

Had a really nice day. Francis came up yesterday and today we met up with friends at Rothay Manor for tea and cakes. Rachel came up from near Preston and then followed us home to stay the night. Bryony and her new partner came with Elizabeth and Dan, which was lovely because I haven't seen Bryony for years. They came back to ours for a drink on their way home. Francis and Rachel got on very well and we talked (for a long time). Rachel went home at lunch-time on Sunday and I drove Francis to Stonethwaite, where we went a short walk to the meeting of the Langstrath and Greenup via the Fairy Glen. It was only when we were half-way round that I realized that I had taken him here before but that didn't matter.

Going in!

In the basement: with me doing a likely impression of being on: Most Haunted.

New House?

Saturday, 14th January

Have just been to see a house with the view of putting in an offer! It is only a few yards from where we live now and although it needs a lot of work (putting it mildly) doing to it, we couldn't let the chance of being able to stay here, go.

Marcus caught this shot whilst walking back to the hotel.

Chinese State Circus

Thursday, 5th January

Did some work at the hotel whilst Marcus and Ricky went out. Shopped in the sales on Oxford Street and then in the evening. . . went to see the Chinese State Circus, which was very impressive - particularly liked the lions - the high-wire dancers and the acrobats were incredible. Before the show had the best salad I have ever had in a nearby Italian cafe/restaurant - wonderful.

Chinese State Circus

Thursday, 5th January

Did some work at the hotel whilst Marcus and Ricky went out. Am working on a short comedy story for current collection about Pan. Shopped in the sales on Oxford Street in the afternoon and then in the evening . . . went to see the Chinese State Circus (this was part of Ricky's birthday present). It was very impressive (I liked the lions best of all). Before the show we had dinner in a nearby Italian cafe/restaurant, where I had the best salad I have ever had - wonderful.

Glass sculpture, hanging in the main entrance to the V & A

The unuaually decorated Christmas tree.

Part of The Cast Court.

Another exhibit in the Cast Court

Replica of font found at Bridekirk (near to where we live) showing Futhark runes.

Victoria & Albert

Wednesday, 4th January

Marcus told me that the Victoria & Albert Museum was a quirky but fascinating place and I found the description to be entirely true. There was an exhibition of cabinets, ranging from tiny, ornate ones to large ones with just as intricate carvings and painted panels. We went out of our way to look at a range of Japanese kimonos and then on to the Cast Court, which was full of large replicas of pillars, and fronts of buildings. It felt spooky walking around these large pieces which had no context i.e. they were divorced from their natural surroundings.
I liked the glass sculputure hanging at the main entrance and the unusual colours used to decorate the Christmas tree.
We walked around Hyde Park: it was very cold and then did some shopping.
Went to The Comedy Store in the evening and saw Josie Lawrence, amongst others doing inpromptu comedy sketches. I enjoyed it very much.

The British Museum

Museum Reading Room: Marcus would like a library like this!

We got to see Sekhmet.

London

Tuesday, 3rd January

Have come down to London for two of Ricky's dance auditions. Arrived late afternoon. Marcus lost no time in taking us to his favourite place; The British Museum, which is just around the corner.

Clough Head - First Attempt

Sunday, 1st January, 2006

Made an attempt at Clough Head but was too tired to complete it. The main difficulty lay in my abandoning my original line of ascent and following another walker to what I thought was an easier one. Also, had started walk from Threlkeld; a stupid idea as there is no direct path to the old coach road and I had to wade across damp fields and over wire fences to reach it, which took me over an hour.

Geraldine's new hat.

New Year's Eve

Saturday, 31st December

Geraldine got a surprise present in the shape of a Xmas present bow, which has become her New Year's Eve Hat - very chic and just right for the season we think.
We watched fireworks from our balcony from on top of Latrigg. It felt very special - our mountain. Always feel very emotional about fireworks - no idea why.